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Jessica Jones Teaser: David Tennant's Purple Man Knows Everything

Daredevil is the first of four planned Marvel/Netflix series based in the Marvel Cinematic Universe version of Hell's Kitchen - with a crossover mini-series, titled The Defenders, also being in the cards. The next installment in Jessica Jones, a TV show created by Melissa Rosenberg - the former Twilight franchise screenwriter and Dexter writer/producer - and starring Krysten Ritter (Don't Trust the B in Apartment in 23) as the series' namesake: a onetime superhero, who has since retired from that game and taken up a career as a private investigator instead.

The previously-released Jessica Jones teasers highlighted the title character's super-abilities; in particular, her super-strength and ability to fly or, at least, jump really high (since Jessica in the Marvel Comics never really mastered the art of flight). However, a fifth Jessica Jones teaser has now launched online, and it teases the main antagonist on the show's freshman season: Dr. Zebediah Kilgrave a.k.a. The Purple Man (David Tennant). You can watch said Marvel/Netflix TV show's latest teaser, above.

Former Doctor Who star Tennant isn't shown in the flesh in the latest Jessica Jones teaser, though his likeness is created through photos by Jessica while she works a late night at her Alias Investigations business (where the series' "Alias" source comic books get their name from). The emphasis here on Dr. Kilgrave's sinister voiceover isn't just for atmospheric effect in the teaser, either; in the Marvel Comics Universe (where Kilgrave started as a Daredevil villain in 1964), the character produces pheromones which allow him to verbally control others. It's safe to assume that will also be the case with The Purple Man on the Jessica Jones Netflix series.

It's not clear how much of Dr. Kilgrave's Marvel Comics backstory is going to be carried over into the Jessica Jones series, as Ritter previously stated that the character's traditional history will be "twisted around and expanded on and developed" in the show. However, the TV show's latest teaser seems to indicate that Kilgrave will be at the heart of a larger conspiracy that Jessica ends up investigating - similar to how Wilson Fisk a.k.a. Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio) served as the criminal mastermind behind all the illicit business going on in Hell's Kitchen in Daredevil season 1.

On the other hand, while it's possible that Dr. Kilgrave will have a hand in much of the mayhem that unfolds in Jessica Jones season 1, the similarities to Kingpin from Daredevil might not be that overt. Rosenberg previously described the Jessica Jones series as being a "psychological thriller first and then a superhero show second," while at the same time she noted that Daredevil is more of a crime drama (featuring a superhero), by comparison. Hence, the cat and mouse game between Dr. Kilgrave and Jessica Jones may play out quite differently than that between Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Wilson Fisk on Daredevil's first season.

Jessica Jones in general looks to shy away from subplots about criminal empires (a la Daredevil), with greater focus on more personal drama - be it the shared connections between Kilgrave and Jessica, Jessica's post-traumatic stress from her superhero days, or Jessica's ongoing romance with the fellow super-powered individual Luke Cage (Mike Colter). That's not to say that, per se, the stakes will be lower as a result; after all, it appears Dr. Kilgrave will be causing trouble for more than just Jessica in the foreseeable future...

Daredevil season one is currently available on Netflix. Jessica Jones will be made available starting November 20th, 2015, followed by Luke Cage season one and Daredevil season two (a.k.a. Daredevil V Punisher) in 2016. Iron Fist and The Defenders will arrive sometime thereafter.